MORADABAD (Rampur): When Congress notched the unexpected tally of 21 MPs in UP in 2009, the party thought these worthies would lay the foundation for sound performance in the local elections. But with Mandate 2012 inching closer, Congress, barring exceptions, has modest expectations from pockets held by these parliamentarians. Instead, it is possible gains in other areas that may take it forward from 22 MLAs.

Moradabad is a case in point. The party is lagging here although only in 2009 the Congress mopped up Muslim and Hindu votes.

"Leave aside Azhar, we find it difficult to get through to his secretary here," rues Aamir in Bartan Bazar. Such sentiments are common in the "brass" city where the joke has gone so far in the last three years that people got photographed holding candles in the dark. "It was a dramatization of our search for our absconding MP," says one of those who participated in the novel protest.

Congress observers feel the district may not give the party any push, with the SP and the BJP emerging top contenders to tap the anti-BSP votes.

It comes close to the drama in Sultanpur , the Gandhi family turf. MP Sanjay Singh and his legislator wife saw the 'first family' led by Priyanka, plead their case in Amethi while Singh stayed away from other assembly segments. Such sights possibly explain how much the battle for UP rests on Rahul Gandhi's shoulders. He has emerged the one-man army. "His across-the-state blitzkrieg is the party's only source of confidence," a party leader says.

There are exceptions, though. Bundelkhand and Kanpur, from where expectations are good. Shahjahanpur and pockets of Devipatan, where some Congress MPs have tried really hard, irrespective of which way the results go.

The change in mood since 2009 is evident in stretches where the Congress is in contest despite losses three years ago. Begum Noor Bano is pitching for her candidates. The party is putting up a good fight in Varanasi and Aligarh.

Sources said MPs assessed negatively could face punishment, as also those sulking over ticket distribution, like an eastern UP MP who had to be persuaded to come to the dais when Rahul came to campaign. A tongue-lashing from Rahul last December nudged many such inactive MPs out of Delhi to campaign.